The query is, which side of the Berlin wall was free? sound easy enough. But life in the divided Berlin was much more subtle than that of an “East” or a “West” existence. Although the West side had more freedom which the other side (East) did not have or enjoy to a large extent, to appreciate the inf nuances of this division, it is important to further examine the political, social, and economic realities of both sides. It is hopes that this examination will highlight the bitter polarities and expose the deceptive simplicity of either/or kind of question.
The Western Sector: An Oasis of Freedoms
West Berlin, including the territories occupied by the Allied forces (United States, United Kingdom, and France), was a piece of freedom in the midst of the communist world. Democratic rights were allowed such as having free elections, free press, and freedom of assembly. All this freedom was guaranteed in the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, valid in West Berlin despite its geographically vulnerable status.
The Western sectors were having a rich capitalist economy. There were flourishing businesses that offered a wide variety of opportunities to the people. This economic freedom was in stark relief to the centrally planned economy of East Berlin where there were regular shortages and economic progress was frequently restricted by political membership.
The culture of West Berlin was prosperous. It is a well-known fact that world-famed artists, musicians, and thinkers were being drawn to its comparatively open society, making it an exciting and vibrant place. This colorfulness was contrasting to the East, where the communist regime had a firm grip on cultural expressionism.
A major distinction: Freedom of Movement and Expression
Arguably, one of the greatest distinctions between East and West Berlin was the freedom of movement. West Berliners were allowed to move freely in West Germany and in other countries. This free movement of people meant a continuous flow of ideas and products leading to economic developments and individual enrichment. In sharp contrast again, East Berlin citizens were allowed no such freedom of travel and had to seek special apparatus to leave the country, which was seldom given.
Freedom of expression also was an important aspect. The media environment in West Berlin was quite the opposite with a wide range of opinions and free discussion. People were permitted to speak ill of the government and take part in political activism without being afraid of punishment with harsh consequences. This freedom was not allowed in East Berlin where any form of dissent was quickly and brutally silenced.
Part Two: Life in the Eastern Sector; under Communist Rule
A very different reality was what the German Democratic Republic (GDR) controlled, East Berlin. Though the GDR constitution provided some freedoms, they were always limited by the ruling party Socialist Unity Party (SED). All spheres of life, including the economy, the media, and cultural production, were controlled by the SED.
East Berlin had a centrally planned economy which resulted in perpetual shortage of consumer goods and housing. The secret police of the GDR, the Stasi, was present at every corner of society creating an air of suspicion and monitoring. This extensive scrutinizing suppressed all opposition and instilled a sense of fear to restrict the personal liberty.
With the restrictions in place the East Berliners too began to build their own resistances, albeit subtly, through informal networks and ingenious ways of getting around the state control. This showed a strength and sense of community that one cannot overlofixed when examining the complexity of life in East Berlin.

The false sense of Freedom: Propaganda and Control
The East Germany regime resorted to massive propaganda to demonstrate that life in the GDR was idyllic and better than in the West. This well-manufactured story hide the truth about the difficult life in the times of communism ruling. The situation was far cry to the idyllic picture depicted by the government.
The control was all around in every facet of life, be it education, employment and even personal relationships. It was the intention of the regime to indoctrinate its citizens at early age so that they could be molded into unquestioning submission to the party line. This stifling domination left little room in self-expression and self-development.
The Wall: The Divider and The Oppressor
Symbolically as well as literally, the Berlin Wall, built in 1961, was designed to separate East and West, ideologically and politically as well as physically. It was not a mere wall between two cities, but a visible symbol of restriction of freedom created by the communist regime.

The building of the wall was a direct reaction to the massive flights of East German to the West. This flight outlined the essential ineffectiveness of the communist system in offering its residents a favorable living. The wall was a Hail Mary pass at controlling the situation and not losing anymore population.
The attempts to escape and the sad stories that usually accompany such attempts also underline the hopelessness of the people living in the communist state and their longing to the liberties that the West promised. The wall served as a daily reminder of the deep disparities on either side of the wall.
Beyond the Binary: A More Subtle picture
After all, the issue of which part of the Berlin Wall was free or not is much more complicated than a mere answer would explain. Although West Berlin represented liberality and a lack of such things in the East, both sectors of the city were heavily influenced by the political and economic conditions. The East, in its unfreedom, however, also demonstrated resistance and solidarity against oppression. The nuances of both sides of the argument can only be realized by lofixeding past the basic binary interpretations.
When the Berlin wall came down in 1989 it was not only the beginning of the physical removal of the wall it served to symbolically represent the end of an era of division and oppression. The circumstances, in which the wall existed, create a very strong reminder about how delicate the freedoms are and why people should struggle to preserve them.

The history of divided Berlin can teach us many things with regards to the significance of democratic rights and liberties, the evils of totalitarianism, and the human spirit of survival and opposition against all odds. It is an elaborate and intriguing historical work that still reverberates in the present.

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